Spectators Balcony (Spotters Corner)If you're not a professional pilot but want to discuss issues about the job, this is the best place to loiter. You won't be moved on by 'security' and there'll be plenty of experts to answer any questions.

I’d say it’s fairly abnormal for a military aircraft to get the opportunity to bash the circuit at busy commercial airports.

I grew up down the road from Luton and had plenty of old friends asking what was going on including videos to “prove” they weren’t pulling my leg and there really was a ‘Herc’ circling Luton so it was abnormal enough for ‘normies’ to notice.

A C-17 has been entertaining the locals at Exeter and Birmingham this afternoon. Occasionally noticed A400s doing circuits at St Mawgan and imagine it's handy to have the opportunity to do so away from Brize which I imagine is fairly busy anyway, and so demonstrates a little good neighbourliness, particularly in the case of the A400 which make quite a lot of din when they pass over here at 30000' and I should think all the more so when getting airborne from Brize.

It's not that uncommon to have C17's do ILS approaches at Norwich as well. We've also had A400's and, very rarely F35's , Tornadoes and Hawks have done the same. Could it be that,due to the reduction in military airfields they do this to make sure hey are familiar with potential diversion airfields?

A C-17 has been entertaining the locals at Exeter and Birmingham this afternoon. Occasionally noticed A400s doing circuits at St Mawgan and imagine it's handy to have the opportunity to do so away from Brize which I imagine is fairly busy anyway, and so demonstrates a little good neighbourliness, particularly in the case of the A400 which make quite a lot of din when they pass over here at 30000' and I should think all the more so when getting airborne from Brize.

The Brize A400's are often using Staverton for approach practice, quite a lot this week too really low over town. A few shots a friend took.

Can you really hear them when they're at FL300? That's what I call LOUD!

Friend in Worthing had one overfly outbound Brize at around 30000' this morning - he said it was very noisy.

I had a Turkish example overfly me earlier at about 27000' also outbound Brize - the noisy bit is relatively brief as it passes overhead and almost gives the impression of resonance. On occasions it is quite harsh on the ears.

Still rather quieter than the incredible An-22 though which really does rattle one's fillings, even at 30000' plus.